Window Cleaner
 

In desperate need of a window cleaner, any recommendations??:)

Re: Window Cleaner
 

It would help if you said what area you lived in.

Re: Window Cleaner
 

Window cleaners have " rounds " , so you can only use the cleaner whose round you live on , unless this rule has changed recently. Where do you live ?

Re: Window Cleaner
 

Hyndburn Road

Re: Window Cleaner
 

I Hope you find a good one. Mine is awful. He uses a new fangled thing that wets the window through a sort of brush.It has a long handle so no need for ladders. The windows are left wet no shammy in sight. I call him 'The window wetter' cause he certainly isn't a cleaner. Still as Greeny says you don't have much choice and I cant start going up ladders at my age.

Re: Window Cleaner
 

My thoughts on this are
if you paying someone to do the job you should be able to pick who you want

Re: Window Cleaner
 

Anybody know of a window cleaner in the Church area, specifically Hyndburn Rd nr Lidl?

Do window cleaners still exist? I have Googled to no avail - all results for commercial companies.

Re: Window Cleaner
 

We have one does our windows (close to you), I think they are due to come today for payment, I`ll get their number number if they do.

Re: Window Cleaner
 

Cheers, DM me the number if you have it.

Re: Window Cleaner
 

She said she`d post a business card through my letterbox next time she`s passing but hasn`t yet, Hyndburn road is on their round though.

Re: Window Cleaner
 

PM sent, they do mine and I've seen the vans around Church and Blackburn road area doing the new houses.

Re: Window Cleaner
 

Thanks guys, appreciate it! :)

Re: Window Cleaner
 

Just in case you didn`t get it sorted, here`s the card.

Re: Window Cleaner
 

did you get sorted with a window cleaner? If not please feel free to PM me and I'll come and have a look for you.

As far as window cleaners having rounds is concerned they do and they don't. The customer DOES reserve the right to use whoever they like but some window cleaners will have a fit if they see another guy on 'their patch'. My opinion (as a window cleaner) is that if I know one guy does the vast majority of an area then I'd leave it alone, but most areas now have numerous guys doing a couple of houses each - so I have no problem joining in. If I know the guy who does your street then I'd probably offer it them first, if they don't want to do it (previous bad payer, moaner, windows they can't reach etc) then I'd offer to step in.

As for the 'window wetter' you are talking about the Water Fed Pole System. Done right this method is infinitely better than the mop and squeegee method. It should be done with pure water that has had all the minerals and chemicals removed. This allows the water to evaporate without leaving any spotting or rings of dust behind. A first clean of a property may still leave traces behind (again, if done right) because the brush will be used to thoroughly clean your frames and vents. These, and joints in the frame, will still seep a little after the clean is finished and it is the contaminated water that leaves dirt behind. This needs doing the first time but after that the window wetter should leave a 100% clean frame and pane that stays clean longer than the traditional method that leaves sticky (not to the touch but to water) soap residue behind.

In short, the WFP method is quicker, more efficient, far safer, less damaging to property and gardens. The downside, and the reason why the vast majority of window cleaners are still traipsing up and down ladders is the prohibitive set up cost of all the equipment, the manufacturing of the pure water, and the fact that the cleaner will need a van rather than his Ford Focus.

Re: Window Cleaner
 

My window cleaner used both methods depending on the type of property.
He uses the traditional method on my bungalow and always does the PVC window frame and ledge.
I have washed mine with brush and hosepipe once but found the dust from the garden stuck before the water dried and it left marks.
I suppose a proper window cleaner man would have made a better job, that's why I employ one now.
He does inside if I ask and charges double of course.

Re: Window Cleaner
 

without going too technical Gremlin, the dust from the garden hadn't settled it was the minerals in the water. The utility companies add stuff to the water, according to area, to make it what they consider drinkable etc. It is measured in parts per million (ppm) and tap water in the Accy area is around about 40-50 ppm. Leeds, where I do the majority of my work, is between 100-400.

The guys who use pure water to clean windows will treat the water via two different methods to bring it down to zero ppm. This means that the water is pure and contains no elements of iron, calcium etc. It is these additives that are left behind when the water evaporates.

A squeegee guy has to leave the window dry because he uses dirty water to clean the window. The slightest gap from the squeegee sliding around will leave dirty water or soap behind which when dried will leave a streak. The pole guys don't need to leave the window dry because, after rinsing, the window will only have pure water on it. Rain water makes no difference to this because rain water is typically almost pure.

Re: Window Cleaner
 

I used to deliver liquid caustic soda, Sulphuric acid or Sodium Hypochlorite to the water treatment plants, 20 ton at a time in a tanker.
I delivered all over the North and Scotland and some of the water plants were in beautiful locations.
The water going into the plant from the ones in the Lake district was absolutely crystal clear and I often wondered why they needed to mess about with it.
We even delivered to the one by the Easterly by pass at Accrington so even our locals weren't spared the stuff.

Re: Window Cleaner
 

government conspiracy to keep regional identification? eg you can tell a Brunleyite from a mile away :eek:

Re: Window Cleaner
 

Re my 'window wetter' Maccawozzagod you have hit the nail on the head saying 'if its done right.' I have two front bay windows, two back bedroom windows, back lounge window ,bathroom window and window half way upstairs done and believe me if it takes him 5 mins he is having a go slow day !!!!!

Re: Window Cleaner
 

Doing the glass only can be rapid without any detriment to the clean, but if he is doing the frames as well (including the top bits) then I would imagine that one man should be about 15 minutes but hard to say without seeing the job. As a rule 50p to a £1 per minute is about right to do the job right for both parties.